Artificial bait



Feb. 27, 1923. 1,446,816

C. F. TAYLOR ET AL ARTIFICIAL BAIT Filed Sept. 25, 1919 O. Taylor E fianclers City/mu;

Patented Pa. 27, 1923.

- UNITED STATES PATENTOF FlCE.

ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

a umion filed September 23, 1919. Serial No. 325,738.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that we, CALVIN F. TAYLOR and Emrrr SANDERS, citizens of the United States residing at Lakeland, in the county of Polk and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial Bait, of which the following is a specification. This" invention relates to artificial bait, and more particularly to that type of. article desi 'ed to be self propelled.

This object is to provide a device which shall include a casing having theform of the body of a fish, or minnow, a propelling device projecting from the rear end of the casing, and a guiding device mounted at the front end of 'the casing, a spring operated motor being mounted within the casing, and operatively connected with .the propeller.

-With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in. the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, the figure is a view, chiefl in longitudinal section. 1

Re errin to the drawings in detail, the line to whlch the bait is attachedis designated 10', a float 11 being fixed thereon at any suitable point. The casing 12 may have the form of a fish such as a minnow, the

casing being suitably colored if desired and provided with the representation of eyes, etc.

A guiding element projects from the forward portion of the casing and is in the form of a small blade which may readily .be bent in the direction in which it is desired power is applied. This guidin member is shownat'15. At the rear of t e casing is a funnel shaped guard 16 having openings 16 therein, the guard surrounding the propeller 17 and the element last .named being mounted on shaft 18. The guard 16 obstructs the view of the propeller from the side, and prevents undue agitation of the water, but does not materially interfere with the function of the propeller, since there will necessarily be a body of water against which the propeller may act, due to the pressure of the The shaft is mounted in suitable bearings, one. of the bearings being in an element 19 extending perpendicularly of the. shaft. 2 oil packing 20 is mounted in any suitable position, for the purpose of making the major portion of the casing watertight, that is, preventing waterentering by way of the rear bearing of the propeller shaft.

Suitable means are provlded for retarding the movement of the shaft, after the spring referred to below has been wound, in order that any desired speed may be secured, within the limits of the mechanism. This adjustable element is designated 22, and it is obvious that it may be so tightened that the rotation of the shaft will be wholly prevented, if the spring is wound a considerable time before the device is laced in the water,

or the line is cast. A- te-r it has beenso tightened, it is released tothe required degree to permit proper rotation of the shaft.

A shaft 25 extends perpendicularly with reference to the shaft first named and rigidly mounted thereon is a gear wheel 26 meshing with a pinion 27 on shaft 18, the ratio between the gear wheel and pinion being preferably nine to one, in order to permit of the. rapid winding of the spring 28 encircling the shaft 18 and having connection with the latter, the spring supplyin motive power for the shaft and the pro- The casing is thus made water-tight, and the operative elements of the device are protected from rust. v

The uiding element 15 having been bent by ban to insure the travel of the minnow in the direction desired, and the spring having been wound, and the plug 34 reinserted in the opening provided therefor, the adjustable speed controlling device is set to permit of the rotation of the propeller at the required speed, and the line and bait are cast in the usual manner.

What we claim is- 1. In a device of the class described, a casing, a longitudinal shaft mounted therein, a propeller carried by the shaft, means for rendering a portion of the casing watertight, means for driving the shaft and propeller, and guiding means carried by the casing said water-tight portion of the casing housing the drivin means and an additional water exclu ing element removable from the wall of the casing and permitting of the insertion of a winding device when 5 removed.

' 2. In a device of the class described, a oas- 'ing, a shaft mounted longitudinally therein, a propeller carried by the shaft, a guard member for the propeller, said guard mem- 10 her having continuous side walls obstructing the entrance of water through the wall of the side view of the propeller, a spring for imparting movement to the. shaft, means for winding the spring and means preventing the casing adjacent to the winding means.

In testimony. whereof we afix our signatures.

CALVIN F. TAR. EMITT SAERS. 

